Clemson on Probation

AP

Published: June 1, 1990

CLEMSON, S.C., May 31—
The National Collegiate Athletic Association placed Clemson's football program on one year's probation today after an investigation found that a coach and a booster gave money to players. But the school averted serious sanctions that could have included a ban on post-season and television appearances.

The N.C.A.A. Committee on Infractions found that on at least two occasions in the fall of 1985 an athlete received and distributed cash payments from a coach of $50 to $70 to another player. The committee also determined that in the spring of 1987 the athlete received $50 from a booster.

The committee said it did not levy the miniumum penalties called for by N.C.A.A. policy because there were only two major violations and they were limited in nature.

Under the committee's ruling, the N.C.A.A. could disband the football program for a limited period if a major violation is uncovered at the school within the next five years.

The violations cited occurred under the former Coach Danny Ford, who resigned on Jan. 19. It is the second time in eight years that Clemson, the Atlantic Coast Conference's premier football program, has been put on probation. The Tigers were hit with two years' probation in 1982 for a variety of recruiting violations under Charley Pell and Ford.